Final Fantasy XIV PS4 Beta Launching In February

Today Square Enix announced a few details on the PlayStation 4 version of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. The beta for FFXIV will be available on that console in late February.

A Realm Reborn, also referred to as Final Fantasy XIV 2.0 is a relaunched version of the medieval fantasy MMORPG. It introduces a new engine while also dramatically changing the interface and gameplay. The game world has been reshaped as well following a cataclysmic event.

Realm officially launched on the PS3 and PC at the end of August. If you bought the PS3 version, you'll be able to play your characters on the PS4 version when it becomes available. The press release mentions "migrating" your characters, so it doesn't sound like you'll be able to switch back and forth between PS3 and PS4 for those characters.

Moving your character to the PS4 won't force you to change servers. PS4, PS3 and PC players all share servers in the game. When they can actually log onto the servers, anyway.

"I think it would be very sad indeed if say a player with the PS3 version invited a friend to play with them but they could not do so because that friend happened to have the PS4 version," producer and director Naoki Yoshida told PlayStation.Blog last month. "So I really do believe that whatever hardware is being used, all players should be able to play together across platforms. I think that splitting the community down into different segments is something that we should avoid, even if it may look like it makes for a temporary business success. I am incredibly grateful to Sony for making this kind of cross-platform play possible."

In order to keep the community from being splintered, Square Enix won't be providing exclusive content for the PS4 version. However, Yoshida said in that interview that the PS4 will provide gamers with a wider range of interface options. Also, due to its more powerful hardware, the next-gen console can render more player characters on screen at the same time.

The PS4 beta will kick off on February 22nd. Additional details on registering for the beta and transferring your PS3 characters will be announced at a later date.